Question on Work Experiences & Extracurriculars

[LuckyLuke]

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I have read several of the threads regarding extra-curriculars, but I still have a couple questions that I can't seem to find the answers to. I thought about posting my specific questions in one of those threads, but I was advised to start a new thread. So here it goes:

1) I am applying to both med & pharm school. I love the aspirations of both careers, but in the end I will only choose one. Up to this point, I have done some volunteer work in the ER of a major hospital. This is the only volunteer work I have done so far. Should I list this in the Extracurricular Field even though the work I did was more related to medicine? Would this cause suspicion to pharm schools that I volunteered in medicine rather than in pharmacy? (Please note I originally wanted to pursue medicine, but the more I read about pharmacy the more I was attracted to it and I decided to pursue pharmacy in the past couple months. Plus med school is EXTREMELY competitive compared to pharmacy where it is still competitive but not as much. I meet all the pre-reqs for pharm school and I am taking the PCAT this August).

2) I was a member of the AMSA club (American Student Medical Association) at my school during the last year. Even though this was a club filled with activities for medical students, would it be ok to list it on my pharm school application? Or would that also raise doubts to pharm schools?

3) During my last year in my engineering undergrad, I joined the Taekwondo club just for poops & giggles and to meet & network with people... even though it was my last year. Should this type of EC go on my app, or would it be better to leave it off?

4) I originally got a computer engineering degree in my undergrad, and after working in IT for 2 years I decided to pursue a career in healthcare. So I have alot of work experience in IT. I managed to get a job as a retail pharm tech and worked from Oct '08 to end of Jan '09. I quit my job mainly b/c they were cutting hours and I was only working one shift every 2 weeks. I decided to focus on finishing my pre-reqs and study for the MCAT I took in May (and now the PCAT in Aug). In the "Work Experience" field, I will obviously list my pharm tech job. Should I also list my professional work in IT since I have so much experience in it?

Any advice would be much appreciated! 👍

 

[LuckyLuke]

Oh and here's another stupid question 🙄 ... when entering ECs and Work Experiences, can I list it as "Position Title" followed by bullet points for the description?

For example:



Hospital ER Volunteer

• responsibility #1
• responsibility #2
• responsibility #3

Would this suffice? Or am I better off writing an actual paragraph stating my position and my responsibilities for that position? Thanks in advance.

 

[aboveliquidice]

1 = Yes list it - I volunteered at triage long before I was in the pharmacy - this is normal.

2 = This is hit and miss... You could choose to be upfront about the fact that you are looking at both. In the end though, it makes it look as though you are not committed (while there is nothing wrong with being so, it is not a favorable attribute in an applicant). I would attempt to feel it out at with an admissions counselor. I can only speak for Pacific in this case - but it is very common for our admissions office to field questions similar to this. Each school varies - so you will want to get this information from the horses mouth. Use the appropriate amount of discretion.

3 = Taekwon whatever is certainly an EC - list it.

4 = Yes, list your IT experience as well. Having a career prior to now shows you have life experience. Maturity is a major component we look at it in an applicant. Is this person ready to be a pharmacist? Having had a career, learned it wasn't for you, and going back for a new one - That says quite a bit about a person's maturity level.

 

[LuckyLuke]

Thanks for the feedback! I'm still not sure about listing AMSA. I kinda wish I joined the Pre-Pharmacy Club at school, but it's too late for that now. Hopefully, I can replace my EC in the AMSA club with my plethora of professional experience under my work experience.

 

[sashagrl259]

Oh and here's another stupid question 🙄 ... when entering ECs and Work Experiences, can I list it as "Position Title" followed by bullet points for the description?

For example:



Hospital ER Volunteer

• responsibility #1
• responsibility #2
• responsibility #3

Would this suffice? Or am I better off writing an actual paragraph stating my position and my responsibilities for that position? Thanks in advance.

I'm not sure about this either? Does anyone know which option is better?

Thanks!

 

[sashagrl259]

Oh and here's another stupid question 🙄 ... when entering ECs and Work Experiences, can I list it as "Position Title" followed by bullet points for the description?

For example:



Hospital ER Volunteer

• responsibility #1
• responsibility #2
• responsibility #3

Would this suffice? Or am I better off writing an actual paragraph stating my position and my responsibilities for that position? Thanks in advance.

I'm not sure about this either... Does anyone know which option is better?

Thanks!

 

[sashagrl259]

well - what's everyone else doing? bullet points or paragraph style?

 

[LuckyLuke]

I think I'm going to go with bullet points. I really don't think it matters in the end. But the char limit for each of the descriptions is 175... it's not much! I had to keep revising my descriptions until I got it under the limit.

 

[sashagrl259]

sounds good, thanks for the reply!

 

[LuckyLuke]

My whole application is filled and ready to be submitted, but I am still unsure about whether to list AMSA (Pre-medical club) in my extracurriculars. I wasn't part of the pre-pharmacy club, so I don't know how it will look to have only AMSA in my extracurriculars but no pre-pharmacy club experience. Or would it be better to have extracurriculars but no mention of AMSA or Pre-Pharmacy Club?

So... list or not to list AMSA in my application? Please let me know your thoughts soon as I want to submit my application ASAP and I am only waiting to decide about this AMSA extracurricular. Thanks! 🙂

 

[Passion4Sci]

My whole application is filled and ready to be submitted, but I am still unsure about whether to list AMSA (Pre-medical club) in my extracurriculars. I wasn't part of the pre-pharmacy club, so I don't know how it will look to have only AMSA in my extracurriculars but no pre-pharmacy club experience. Or would it be better to have extracurriculars but no mention of AMSA or Pre-Pharmacy Club?

So... list or not to list AMSA in my application? Please let me know your thoughts soon as I want to submit my application ASAP and I am only waiting to decide about this AMSA extracurricular. Thanks! 🙂

I'd list it.

It is a student organization nationally recognized, and it is related to the health care field.

 

[koercive]

My whole application is filled and ready to be submitted, but I am still unsure about whether to list AMSA (Pre-medical club) in my extracurriculars. I wasn't part of the pre-pharmacy club, so I don't know how it will look to have only AMSA in my extracurriculars but no pre-pharmacy club experience. Or would it be better to have extracurriculars but no mention of AMSA or Pre-Pharmacy Club?

So... list or not to list AMSA in my application? Please let me know your thoughts soon as I want to submit my application ASAP and I am only waiting to decide about this AMSA extracurricular. Thanks! 🙂

I'd list it as well. Your work experience prior to pursuing pharmacy adds another dimension to your application. Since you eventually became a pharm tech and decided pharmacy was for you, you should really highlight this transition. Be prepared to answer "why not medicine?" at your interviews.